Cyclone Nilam: Bodies of two missing sailors found

Chennai, Nov 2: Tragedy continues to haunt people of Tamil Nadu after cyclone Nilam hit the state on Friday, Nov 2. Sources say bodies of two of the five missing sailors of ship MT Pratibha Cauvery, which was grounded by cyclone Nilam, have been found.

"One of the bodies was washed ashore near the Chennai harbour while the other was found near Adyar Estuary. Both the bodies are yet to be identified," said an official involved in rescue and rehabilitation process.

However, the three other missing sailors remain untraceable. A Coast Guard official said, "We do not monitor ships at ports, not even on a cyclone day. We rescue only when there is a call." Chennai Port officials said the ship's captain had ignored instructions to leave for safe waters following the cyclone alert.

After the landfall of cyclone Nilam, one person died in Tamil Nadu and no major damages have been reported till now. Heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema but it lost power over time.

Fifteen sailors, who were gone missing with Pratibha Cauvery vessel, were rescued on Thursday. A search is on for another three missing crew who were on board an oil tanker that drifted and ran aground off the city coast in high velocity winds before the landfall of cyclone 'Nilam'.

On the contrary, at least six persons died and 70,000 people have been displaced due to Nilam in Sri Lanka. Flood water filled several roads in Colombo, trees were uprooted and train services were affected.